Christine Zona Foto, San FranciscoMember Since August 2008Artist Statement Seen through the right eyes, everything looks new. Capturing it is not an easy job, but it’s what I love about my photography.

In my work as a photographer, I enter each shoot with a plan. But when time comes to photograph, I watch for the happy mistakes -- those unexpected moments that bring out the mood and beauty of the location and capture the true personality of my subjects.

The results are energetic portraits of a stylized real life -- that somehow feels bigger than real life. I achieve this by balancing the spontaneity and daring style of my Fine Art work with my years of professional experience.

In the San Francisco Chronicle’s 2010 Best of the BayList contest, I won third place for Best Portrait Photography in the Bay Area. With a field of 26 nominees, over 70,500 votes were cast to pick the winners.

As the first in-house staff photographer for the Discovery Channel, I planned shoots and photographed everything from products and corporate headshots, to destination imagery and full editorial campaigns.

For my Fine Art work -- done with plastic cameras -- I was named Grand Champion in Urban Outfitters’ “Urban Nomad” Photography Contest. The winning photograph was sold in Urban Outfitters stores nationwide. My work has been featured in two solo shows and exhibited in three international juried competitions. It also won First Place in Lomography’s “Wanderlust” Photo Competition, and has been published by the popular toy camera blog, Four Corners Dark.

I love making the mundane seem otherworldly. My best photographs are full of emotions, textures, and surprises

NOTE: If you would like an image in a bigger size, please send me a note. I shoot film, and I would be happy to provide you with a larger file. Thanks!